Answer
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Step 1: Historical Context
Catherine de Medici earned the nickname "the serpent queen" due to her complex and cunning political maneuvering during the French Renaissance in the 16th century. Her reputation was shaped by several key factors:
Step 2: Political Manipulation
Catherine was known for her strategic and often ruthless approach to maintaining power. As the wife of King Henry II of France and mother to three successive French kings, she wielded significant behind-the-scenes political influence during a turbulent period of religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots).
Final Answer
Catherine de Medici was called the "serpent queen" due to her calculated, patient, and potentially ruthless political strategies that allowed her to maintain significant power and influence in the French royal court during a tumultuous period of religious and political conflict.
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